Verizon Invests $1.1 Million To Better Serve Ambler, Pa. Area Customers

AMBLER, Pa. -- Verizon customers in eastern Montgomery County soon will benefit from a $1.1 million upgrade and expansion of the company's Ambler call-switching center.

Verizon is installing advanced power equipment at its Ambler facility to increase reliability and efficiency in the company's telecommunications network.

This equipment powers systems that prevent service disruptions, provide increased fraud detection capability and enable more efficient billing for customers and competitors. Verizon provides billing for competitors that use Verizon's billing services. The new power equipment also will accommodate future growth.

The company expects to complete the Ambler upgrade by the end of this month.

In addition, Verizon continues to install fiber-optic cable throughout the commonwealth. Fiber-optic systems use hair-thin glass fibers and digital technology to deliver high-quality telephone service along with sophisticated data communications services. Verizon Pennsylvania ranks fourth among the nation's local telephone companies in fiber-optic cable installed in its network, according to reports compiled by the Federal Communications Commission.

"The Ambler project underlines Verizon's commitment to build and maintain a state-of-the-art telecommunications network throughout Pennsylvania," said James V. O'Rourke, president of Verizon Pennsylvania. "We continue to upgrade our infrastructure to provide rural, suburban and urban customers with better quality service, as well as the platform for high-speed access to the Internet, work-at-home capabilities and a host of other innovative services."

Verizon has invested approximately $2.5 billion in its telecommunications network across the commonwealth over the last three years.

"We are building an advanced telecommunications network that will stimulate job and income growth and will make Pennsylvania one of the most attractive locations for corporations and individuals," O'Rourke said.

In addition to deploying the latest technology, Verizon Pennsylvania offers a complete range of telecommunications services, including local, regional and long-distance calling, as well as high-speed data and Internet and wireless services. The company's Veriations^sm family of communications plans delivers the convenience of one bill and very attractive discounts as customers subscribe to several Verizon services.

"The level of telecom competition in Pennsylvania today is unprecedented," said O'Rourke. "Competition and Verizon's entry into the long-distance market has benefited consumers, who today can choose from many providers for all their communications needs."

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 135.8 million access line equivalents and 32.5 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and 229,500 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 30 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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